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By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Friday March 10, 2023
There are three gamers aged 35 or older remaining within the BNP Paribas Open males’s singles draw, and so they every simply occur to be legends – Andy Murray (35), Richard Gasquet (36) and Stan Wawrinka (37).
Every gave a wonderful account of themselves in spherical one, giving followers a style of what took them to the highest of the game of their heyday.
Murray — he of the steel hip — defeated Tomas Martin Etcheverry, rallying from a set down for the fourth time this season and enhancing his report in deciders to 7-0. The Scot has been exceptional in 2023, loggin in 31 hours of courtroom time in his 10 matches, and taking part in one dramatic epic after one other.
Wawrinka edged out Aussie qualifier Aleksandar Vukic, additionally in three units, whereas Gasquet, nonetheless displaying loads of the classic kind that took him to World No.7, topped Croatia’s Borna Gojo in three.
The technology which by no means offers up ❤️@andy_murray displays on his admiration for Wawrinka & Gasquet late of their taking part in careers…@stanwawrinka @richardgasquet1 #TennisParadise pic.twitter.com/H9UnzcPq8v
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) March 10, 2023
After his win on Thursday, Murray was requested to present his ideas about his fellow 35-somethings, and had the next to say about Wawrinka and Gasquet.
“I imply me and Stan all the time stayed in contact in the course of the accidents and stuff, I imply not like each day however messages right here and there,” he stated of Wawrinka, including:
“We all the time bought on very effectively collectively and clearly we’ve shared the courtroom with one another many instances. We all the time form of message one another and we now have stayed in contact by the accidents.” There are 1,869 wins and 78 titles between the trio, and their can be – clearly – a bond of friendship.
Murray says that 36-year-old Gasquet, who has by no means received a serious title, however has racked up 595 wins and 16 titles, doesn’t get practically sufficient respect for what he has achieved over the course of his 21-year profession.
The Frenchman, who turns 37 on June 18, has 4 High-10 finishes and three Grand Slam semifinals to his identify. He began his profession on tour as a 15-year-old in 2002, profitable on his debut on Monte-Carlo.
Today, he’s taking part in his coronary heart out on tour for the love of the game, and nonetheless extremely aggressive. He defeated Cameron Norrie to win the title in Auckland simply two months in the past.
“I used to be actually completely happy for him when he received the event in Auckland earlier this yr as a result of I feel typically he perhaps would not get the respect that he deserves,” Murray stated. “He has been an unimaginable participant for such a very long time. I simply love seeing guys which are perhaps not at their peaks, nonetheless on the market giving all the things and competing as a result of they love the game.”
Murray and his fellow legends might not admire when the press maintain nagging them about retirement, however once they chat amongst themselves the topic tends to return up as effectively.
HOW DOES HE DO IT? 🔥
Take a bow, @richardgasquet1! pic.twitter.com/yIWvx24MHz
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) March 10, 2023
I practiced with [Richard] right here final yr at this event and we had been chatting,” Murray stated. “I used to be chatting with Gasquet [and asking] ‘How lengthy are you going to play?’ and he was asking me, and he was simply saying that he simply nonetheless likes to play, and he loves competing.
“That may take you a great distance, and he additionally has an extremely proficient man additionally – the love for this sport remains to be there clearly to be taking part in in addition to he has at his age.”
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